“Both epic and intimate, The Demon Star is a piercing examination of faith and tyranny that grips readers by the throat and drags them on a devastating journey to the stars and back. Readers who crave richly painted world building and morally complex characters will be obsessed with this sweeping science fantasy that burrows under the skin and lingers.”—M. Stevenson, author of Behooved
“I was possessed by Aragon’s ambitious debut! The Demon Star is an exploration of family bonds, faith, and sacrifice on an astronomical scale, driven by a human heart. If you are a fan of body horror, messy, relatable, and painfully mortal characters, and worldbuilding that is both intricate and grandiose in scale, this one is for you. The Demon Star sets off to answer the question “what is a god?” and it damn well delivers on its promise.” —A.D. Sui, Nebula Award-winning author of The Dragonfly Gambit
“Aragon’s science-fantasy epic infected me with wonder and creeping dread. The Demon Star is a testament to how desperation turns the power-starved into monsters, and in a brutal world oppressed by alien gods, I would bow at Ysira and Jacen’s feet.” —Sara Omer, author of The Gryphon King
“Jesse Aragon’s thrilling and ambitious debut kicks down the door between genres, summoning an existential dread that skitters and crawls through the pages. The Demon Star is a horror-infused science fantasy with epic stakes, astonishing worldbuilding, a biting examination of religious trauma, and deeply incisive character work that flays open the story’s emotional core.” —Ren Hutchings, author of Under Fortunate Stars